We’ve all heard of the most common pregnancy symptoms – nausea, vomiting, heartburn, back pain, fatigue, etc. However, the full range of pregnancy symptoms would surprise most people. Pregnancy can be a very different experience from one woman to another. What one woman can find difficult and potentially damaging to her quality of life, another could find that she is barely affected by her pregnancy, if not frankly able to enjoy the experience to the fullest.
For those women who struggle, part of what can make symptoms so challenging to deal with is the guilt over not getting to enjoy being pregnant. The fact is that pregnancy is a medical condition, and there are very little women can do to prevent many symptoms from occurring. The best thing we can do collectively is to educate ourselves on some of the lesser-known symptoms so women who struggle do not feel so alone or judged as they work through an experience that lasts the better part of a year.
5 lesser-known pregnancy symptoms
- Nosebleeds – Pregnancy can impact a woman’s sinuses quite dramatically. One of the effects of this is nosebleeds. Pregnant women can experience nosebleeds on a daily basis, sometimes multiple times per day for weeks or months at a time. It can be helpful to avoid irritating the nose area as much as possible and use a humidifier around the house.
- Gallbladder issues – Hormones associated with being pregnant can change or alter many of the ways our body reacts to everything from food, exercise, sleep, etc. Gallbladder issues are present during pregnancy because our hormones change in a way that makes us more susceptible to such a condition. Many pregnant women report feeling pain in their gallbladder area after eating certain foods (normally those that are more fat-heavy). Or, this pain can come simply from hormonal changes.
- Skin changes – As noted, your hormones are deeply impacted by a pregnancy, and this can often involve changes to your skin. Acne, dryness, and irritation are all common during pregnancy. It is important when treating these issues to review whether the products you are using are safe for pregnancy. For example, some skincare items, especially treatments, are too harsh to be used while pregnant.
- Sleep difficulty – Degrees of insomnia are unfortunately possible during pregnancy. Many women simply struggle with the inherent discomfort that comes from their changing bodies, but you may also struggle to sleep because of the symptoms you’re experiencing like nausea, heartburn, back pain, sinus issues, dizziness, etc.
- Lowered immune system – Pregnancy can make women more susceptible to contracting infections and viruses because their immune system is lowered. It is important to take steps to protect yourself from illness as much as possible and avoid spending time with those who are currently unwell.
Please note that it is always important to speak with your OB about the symptoms you are experiencing while pregnant. In many cases, there are opportunities to treat your symptoms, if not at least lessen the severity so your quality of life can be improved. There is no reason to suffer without at the very least discussing the issue(s) with your doctor.
